The 29 American Olympians' Instagrams to Follow Now

By
Rachel Grice
Updated August 2, 2016

About the Author:

Rachel Grice

Rachel Grice is the senior fitness editor for LIVESTRONG.com and a certified yoga instructor (RYT-200). She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Southern California and has worked for Men's Health, FitPregnancy and People magazines.

1. Rio 2016

Go bilingual with this official look at all the happenings in Rio. Featuring shots from both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, this account makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action.

3. NBC Olympics

NBC has long dominated coverage of the Olympics in the U.S., and now they're owning Instagram coverage, too. Catch each bead of sweat and every scream of victory (and even some snaps of athletes with puppies).

Olympians on the Mat (and Beam and Rings)

You'll flip for these Instagram accounts featuring the finest gymnasts that America has to offer. Watch these men and women exhibit some of the craziest feats of strength and balance — from the uneven and parallel bars to the vault and the floor.

7. Simone Biles

She may be new to the Olympics, but this 19-year-old is no stranger to victory. As three-time world all-around champion and four-time U.S. national all-around champion (just to name a few), it's clear she's poised to snag some serious hardware in Rio.

8. Sam Mikulak

He's baaaaack! After competing in the 2012 Olympics, Sam is once again competing on behalf of his country. And based on his score at the trials in St. Louis (he posted the highest all-around score), he's on top of his game.

9. Laura Zeng

Rhythmic gymnastics might not be the event you think of when you think of Olympic gymnastics, but Laura's Instagram account will open your eyes to all the beauty and grace of the sport. Not to mention her insane training schedule.

10. Allyson Felix

These days, you can find Allyson gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated's Olympic issue. But take a look at her Instagram, and you'll get a peek at what got her there: tons of hard work and some pretty awesome shoes.

A photo posted by justingatlin (@justingatlin) on Nov 20, 2015 at 4:06pm PST

11. Justin Gatlin

You wouldn't think 34 would be considered old. But after he won the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials this year, Gatlin became the oldest sprinter to make an American Olympic team. Age be damned, he's pretty darn fast.

12. Emma Coburn

In 2012, Emma was the youngest runner on the American team. Now 4 years older and four years wiser, she won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. And as a member of Team New Balance, she even has her own shirt cheering, "Go Emma."

14. Jenn Suhr

Runners may take most of the spotlight when it comes to track and field. But don't say that to Jenn Suhr. As "the reigning queen of the pole vault," she qualified for the Olympics with the same height she jumped to win gold in London (15 feet, 9 inches). And if she keeps that pattern up, she'll be vaulting her way to another gold medal.

And Those Making a Splash

As the summer heats up, we'll all want to take a dip in the pool. But the reason these athletes are in the water has nothing to do with cooling down. In fact, they've just begun to make things even hotter. Figuratively, of course.

A photo posted by Ryanlochte (@ryanlochte) on Jul 26, 2016 at 5:00pm PDT

15. Ryan Lochte

His signature catch phrase may have inspired a thousand imitators, but his skills in the pool are nearly unmatched. Currently, his Olympic medal count sits at 11, but who knows how many more he'll amass by the end of the games. Fun fact: August 3 is Ryan's birthday, and what's a better gift than a shot at Olympic gold? Happy birthday, Ryan!

16. Missy Franklin

She made a name for herself at the 2012 Olympics (taking five medals in London), so fans will be happy to have her return this year. Even though she's a star in the pool, on her Instagram, she still takes time to eat her Wheaties.

18. Nathan Adrian

While he has three Olympic gold medals and the American record in the long course 50-meter freestyle, Nathan Adrian is anything but complacent. Click over to his Instagram for proof of his hours and hours spent in the pool and the weight room.

19. Matt Grevers

You might have spied this guy in the pages of Vogue with his teammate Nathan Adrian (see above), but the pics on his Instagram are a little more casual. See this six-time Olympic medalist hiking around Utah, sipping sports drinks by the pool and recovering on the couch.

20. Mariya Koroleva

While speed may be the name of the game for the swimmers above, precision is the key for this synchronized swimmer. She and her partner Anita Alvarez have traversed the #RoadtoRio and are now ready for the main event.

Don't Miss Out on These Other Awesome Athletes

With 43 different sports being featured at the 2016 Olympics, there's no way to feature each and every athlete here. But if you're looking to take a break from the standard sports, here are some other events and their star athletes to watch out for.

22. Kerri Walsh Jennings

For this volleyball powerhouse, Rio marks her fifth Olympic games! But in addition to being an incredible athlete, her humble Instagram bio reads, "Believer, wife, mother, athlete, lover of life, chaser of dreams." And she's chasing her dreams all the way to Rio.

25. Alise Post

You may be asking yourself, "BMX is an Olympic sport?" But Alise Post is here to assure you that it is — and that she's going to rock it this summer. With a nickname like "The Beast," you know she's fierce competition.

A photo posted by ClaressaTheChampishee!!! (@claressashields) on Jul 21, 2016 at 9:39am PDT

26. Claressa Shields

Earlier this year, Claressa Shields told ESPN that her goal was to, "go down in history as the best woman fighter to ever live." And with one gold medal under her belt from 2012 and a shot at another this summer, she's well on her way.

27. Grace Luczak

Rowing her way to Rio with partner Felice Mueller, Grace Luczak brings with her a gold medal from the 2015 World Championship and a world record from 2011. So follow her now to get an inside look at her training and shenanigans.

28. Jackie Galloway

Proving she's a force to be reckoned with, Jackie's Instagram warns, "God help anyone who gets in my way." And come August, she'll be representing the U.S. in taekwondo. You can follow both her personal account (@jackiekicks_urface) and her training account (@jackiegalloway.usa) to see what it takes to train like an Olympian.

29. Carlin Isles

His Instagram bio tells you pretty much everything you need to know about his major athletic accomplishments: "Ran track professional played in the NFL now play rugby professional for the U.S.A. team." And as rugby returns as an Olympic sport for the first time in 92 years, you'll want to keep your eyes on this superstar.

What Do YOU Think?

Will you be watching the Summer Olympics this year? What sport are you most looking forward to? Who are some of your favorite athletes, and do you follow any of them on Instagram? Who would you add to this list? Share your suggestions in the comments section below!